Red Wings' Anthony Mantha out 6-8 weeks with fractured tibia

20-year-old forward suffered injury in prospects game

DETROIT – It appears 20-year-old Anthony Mantha's push to make his debut with the Red Wings on opening night is over.

Detroit GM Ken Holland announced Thursday that Mantha will miss the next 6-8 weeks with a fractured right tibia. The injury reportedly happened in the first period of Wednesday's prospects game against the Minnesota Wild in Traverse City.

Mantha, selected 20th overall by Detroit in the 2013 draft, is without question the team's top prospect right now. He scored 120 points (57 goals and 63 assists) in 57 games this past season with the QMJHL's Val-d'Or Foreurs.

Holland had said Mantha probably would make his debut during the preseason, at least. At 6-foot-5, about 200 pounds, he is expected to provide good net-front presence for the Red Wings. His hands are as good as anyone's, but everyone is waiting to see him tested at the professional level.

We'll have to wait a bit longer.

Obviously, this means Mantha will miss training camp, which began Thursday morning with the 15th annual Training Camp Golf Classic at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. That's followed by five days of practices and scrimmages starting on Friday.

The Red Wings play their first preseason game Monday, Sept. 22, on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins.